Bones Boss on Season 9: Booth and Brennan "Will Get Married This Season"

The last season of Bones may have ended on a sad note for Booth and Brennan, but there are happy days ahead for the on-again, off-again couple.

"We're not fooling you; they will be getting married this season," creator and executive producer Hart Hanson told a jubilant crowd at the show's Comic-Con panel on Friday.

Marriage seemed to be on everyone's mind even before Hanson dropped the stunning bombshell. The panel, moderated by TV Guide Magazine's William Keck, kicked things off with star David Boreanaz proposing to his on-screen love Emily Deschanel in character as Booth. "Bones, you have been there for me for so long and you have had so much meaning," he said as he kneeled down on one knee. Spoiler alert! She said yes. "I am getting married to David Boreanaz," Deschanel yelled to the crowd.

However, before Booth and Brennan can walk down the aisle, they have a lot of work to do on their fragile relationship. In the season finale, Booth had to call off their engagement because of a threat from serial killer Pelant (Andrew Leeds). "It's three months from the last time we saw them and the relationship is being pushed to a different level, a different place," executive producer Ian Toynton said of the season premiere, which he is directing. "They're in a serious place."

And it won't just be Brennan who is less-than-pleased with Booth. Enter a priest from Booth's past who will help him out. "Everybody's mad at Booth for reneging on the engagement," Hanson said. "He doesn't have anyone he can talk to so he seeks out the man he used to talk to."

Booth and Brennan will be forced to confront their personal issues fairly quickly when they go undercover at a couples' retreat in the second episode of the season. "I think the fact that they are having such brutal problems and [have to] solve a murder while people are asking pointed questions is just fun," Hanson said. "The question is: Do you believe in couples' retreats or not?"

Booth will even get some help from his mom, played by Joanna Cassidy. "We'll definitely see her in this season as well," Boreanaz said. "It will help him deal with the relationship with Bones in the future."

Although Brennan's mom is long-gone, she may also make a return appearance after her surprising first visit. "We'd love to have her mother come back in some way and challenge her view that it was just something happening in her brain," Hanson said.

However, the first big matter of business this season will obviously be taking down Pelant. "He's a little old. He needs to go fast," Boreanaz said. "I think from Booth's perspective, he's really annoying. He stopped the whole marriage thing and he's caused a lot of problems. I think Booth should take him out in a really strong manner."

Fortunately for Booth, and the entire team, it sounds like Pelant might not survive Season 9. "He will last as long as he's interesting, but they are getting married," Hanson said.

Check out a first look at Season 9:

Bones returns on Monday, Sept. 16 at 8/7c on Fox. Are you excited that Booth and Brennan are finally tying the knot?